SEATTLE – Drivers should plan for another day of lane closures and delays as contractor crews replace failing expansion joints on northbound I-5 south of Downtown Seattle.

Construction progress Crews closed three out of five lanes on the freeway to replace four old and bumpy expansion joints just south of South Spokane Street. Crews completed the removal of the 50-year-old joints around 7 p.m. Saturday night and started prep work for the installation of the new expansion joints. Crews are on schedule to complete the expansion joint replacement and reopen all lanes of I-5 by 5 a.m. Monday.

Traffic Northbound I-5 drivers faced delays ranging from 10 to 40 minutes on Saturday, with peak delays occurring as expected around midday when the backup stretched back to Boeing Field. Traffic was heavy through the afternoon on northbound I-405 through Renton, one of the primary alternate routes to I-5, but relatively light on SR 509 and SR 99.

Drivers can help keep traffic moving the rest of the weekend by carpooling, using transit and by delaying or combining trips. Drivers can plan ahead by checking traffic conditions on the WSDOT website, the WSDOT Traffic app and the 5-1-1 traveler information line before leaving the house.

The expansion joint replacement work is part of the $4.5 million I-5: Spokane Street Special Bridge Repair project.